
Helps students see the bigger picture.
A true mentor who cares about success.
Always goes above and beyond for students.
Inspires curiosity and a thirst for knowledge.
Creates a safe space for learning and growth.
Dr. Sonali Pandithawatta is a Lecturer in Construction Management in the School of Civil Engineering and Construction, College of Engineering and Information Technology at Adelaide University. Her research specializes in knowledge-driven approaches for construction safety analysis and accident prevention, automating job hazard analysis processes, ontological modeling of tacit knowledge for hazard identification in construction, development of knowledge graphs for automatic job hazard analysis, application of robotic technology for construction industry advancement, and SWOT analysis for large-scale contractors. She actively contributes to the academic community through peer-reviewed publications and teaching in construction-related disciplines.
Pandithawatta's key publications include the journal article 'Systematic literature review on knowledge-driven approaches for construction safety analysis and accident prevention' (Buildings, 2024), 'Ontological modeling of tacit knowledge for automating job hazard analysis in construction' (Journal of Management in Engineering, 2024), 'A knowledge-driven approach to automate job hazard analysis process' (Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management, 2024), and 'Development of a knowledge graph for automatic job hazard analysis: the schema' (Sensors, 2023). Her conference papers encompass 'Application of Robotic Technology for the Advancement of Construction Industry in Sri Lanka: A Review' (2020), 'Feasibility of Robotic Technology for the Advancement of Construction Industry in Sri Lanka' (2020), and 'SWOT Analysis for Large Scale Contractors of Sri Lanka' (2019). These works, often in collaboration with researchers like Seungjun Ahn, Raufdeen Rameezdeen, Christopher W. K. Chow, and Nima Gorjian, demonstrate her impact on digital transformation and safety in construction. She teaches courses such as Quantity Surveying Practice 2, Asset Management and Building Pathology, Low-rise Construction and Land Surveying, and Construction Management Research Dissertation, providing students with foundational and advanced skills in quantity surveying, cost estimating, building pathology, and research methodologies.
